Court Jester

Greg Giraldo states his case

by Ben Kharakh

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Published: Oct 9, 2007

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Greg Giraldo has this "American Dream" stuff down. The son of immigrants, he went to Harvard Law, then left his career as a lawyer for an even more successful gig as a comedian. His blend of cultural and political commentary has been featured on two Comedy Central specials and multiple appearances on Conan and Letterman. Career counselor just may be next on his résumé.

City Paper: How is it that a child of immigrants went to Harvard Law?

Greg Giraldo: I borrowed just about everything that I spent. So, luckily I managed to stay dirt poor for years afterward.

CP: That's some pretty serious debt.

GG: I couldn't pay it at all for a few years, and I kept putting things off, and they gave me these deferments and postponements, and I kept hiding and running. And then I got a deal at ABC to develop a sitcom based on my being a lawyer. I took that deal money and paid off the whole chunk in one shot.

CP: Growing up, did you find that there was a clash between the values of your parents and the values of American culture?

GG: No, my parents had pretty traditional values. Both of my parents were actually very pro-gay porn, and they had been trying to push me into gay porn. Which clashed a little bit with American culture, which kind of frowned on that at the time.

CP: Do you feel like your success puts pressure on your children?

GG: I don't know. My children seem fine. I hope they don't feel the pressure to be anything but what God — and when I say God, of course I mean Jesus — intends for them.

CP: What would that be?

GG: I think you gotta really look at each individual kid. My oldest seems pretty good at the flamethrower. So he'll probably do some sort of military stuff. The second one is more of a newspaperman. And I think the youngest will probably build hang gliders.

CP: Not exactly the most traditional careers.

GG: Well, it depends on how you look at it. It's all manufacturing, you know? It's pretty traditional under a broader umbrella.

CP: Do you worry about their future, seeing as how America is moving away from a manufacturing-based economy?

GG: I try to tell them constantly that if you're going to be a flamethrower guy, manufacturing flamethrowers is not where the money is. It's treating the trauma that results to operators of flamethrowers. But I worry about the future in general, not just because we're shifting to a service economy.

CP: What are your other concerns?

GG: I worry about Tommy Lee and Kid Rock, and whether they'll really ever heal that rift. And I also worry a lot about whether The View is going to be as good without Rosie on it.

Greg Giraldo

Thu., Oct. 18, 8 p.m.; Fri., Oct. 19, 8 and 10:30 p.m.; Sat., Oct. 20, 7 and 9:15 p.m., $20-$29, Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St., 215-496-9001, www.heliumcomedy.com

 

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